UPDATE: Ijalana has not fully recovered from a sports hernia injury, and will not participate in drills at the NFL Combine. He will still meet with teams as planned and will be fully healed for his Pro-Day in March.
UPDATE: Ijalana measured in at just a shade under 6'3", while weighting in at 317 lbs with 36" arms.
...the height is a bit shocking and will only add fuel to the fire that he's a guard in the NFL (which I think he is too)...the arm length is a HUGE plus though and if he ever has to fill in at tackle, will enable him to do that...
Villanova OL Ben Ijalana will be reporting to the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, IN today to begin his pre-draft workouts. Ijalana is one of 55 offensive linemen who will be participating in the combine this week, and his workouts will begin on today and conclude on Saturday February 26th.
A 3-year All-CAA selection and a 2-time All-American selection, Ijalana started every game in his 3-year career for Villanova, and is already making some noise amongst pro scouts before the combine has even begun. Most experts have him slated as a 2nd-round pick, but Don Banks of Sports Illustrated has him going in the 1st round in his latest mock draft.
Ijalana played left tackle exclusively in college, but most think he projects as a guard in the NFL.
...I'll actually be doing a player profile on Ben Ijalana next week for SB Nation as our draft coverage ramps up...with him it all depends on two things - how he performs this week, and what the teams late in the round (after trades have been done) are looking for...having a 1st-round pick would be HUGE for our football program...